| Author | Message | ||
     Roderick Waite Prolific User Username: rodwaite Post Number: 178 Registered: 1-2012 |
Hello - me again - another little query. I fitted a new fuel gauge sender unit 8 years ago, and it has worked perfectly - until now. In the past 10 days or so I've noticed it tends to stick at 1/4 full. I usually keep the tank about half full, 50 litres or so, and the gauge goes up towards the 1/2 mark when I put in my usual 25 litres, but over a few days slowly settles back to 1/4 even though I haven't used the car. Is this normal behaviour indicating I need another new sender unit? Any recommendations? Thanks ... | ||
| Roderick Waite Prolific User Username: rodwaite Post Number: 179 Registered: 1-2012 |
Should have said it's for a 1984 Spirit ECH09680 | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 2050 Registered: 6-2006 |
Does it stay down at 1/4 even if you take it for a drive? | ||
| Roderick Waite Prolific User Username: rodwaite Post Number: 180 Registered: 1-2012 |
Hello Paul - yes, but I think that it goes down once the fuel in the tank actually does reach the quarter full mark. Not sure about that, but I can't trust it any more -I have to use the trip odometer (25 litres = 75 miles). I get nervous when it goes below a quarter - petrol stations in France are few and very far between! | ||
| Roderick Waite Prolific User Username: rodwaite Post Number: 182 Registered: 1-2012 |
To update this - Echo simply stopped. Luckily just as I was leaving the garage. Noticed the fuel gauge didn't move when the ignition was switched on, and knew I had about 40 litres left. Or thought I did ... fearing an electrical failure, stripped the ignition barrel ... perfect ... long story short it was a petrol leak right after the fuel pump, rubber hose evidently leaking more and more over a very long period, but only under pump pressure. Eventually leaking 2 miles-worth for every mile travelled - so I'd used 20 litres and leaked 40. Gauge didn't move because the tank was actually empty. 3 quids worth of proper hose and 5 minutes under the car fixed it. | ||
| Peter Maclaren Experienced User Username: ludo Post Number: 45 Registered: 4-2009 |
My fuel gauge has been giving strange readings recentley and the car (Bentley 55635) using more fuel than usual. The garage smelt of petrol so I looked around but could't see any obvious leaks. I started the car this morning and in the sunlight observed a stream of fuel coming out under the car Turned it off, raised the car and saw that the pump appears to be the culprit. A steady drip is now leaking from the + terminal on the pump. I cleaned the area to be sure where the fuel is coming from. I had been hoping that like in Roderick's case, a hose was responsible. Can these pumps be reconditioned? Do I have to wait until all the fuel has dripped out before removing the pump. Any advice will be appreciated. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 2802 Registered: 6-2009 |
I can't speak to the pump after chassis 32146, but prior to that number it was a straight Bosch replacement. I don't know what the arrangement is between the fuel tank and your pump is, but on my SY series cars I did not have to drain the tank to work on the pump once the fuel level was down quite a bit. I did put in a cut-off valve in the line between the tank and the pump on both in the event I ever needed to do work in the future, the tank was full, and I wanted to be able to easily ensure nothing was coming out of the tank via syphon or any other way. If you've got a steady drip I would definitely be clamping off the hose between the tank and pump just for safety's sake. You can (and should) replace that as part of the job, too. Brian | ||
| Robert J. Sprauer Prolific User Username: wraithman Post Number: 189 Registered: 11-2017 |
Pumps on SY and SZ cars are external. If fuel injection the pump is Bosch. Hopefully just a bad hose, if you replace one, replace them all. | ||
| Peter Maclaren Experienced User Username: ludo Post Number: 46 Registered: 4-2009 |
Thanks Brian and Robert for replying.Spent some time today hoping to determine that it was a hose problem,but the slow drip still appears to be from the post for the pos lead.There is what looks like a nylon seal at the top of the post where the lead is attached and the fuel is escaping between the seal and the post. As I don't have access to a hoist, and I can't use the car now knowing fuel is escaping, I will have to come up with a plan B. Its up on axle stands at the moment plus a jack so I think its secure. | ||
| Steve Emmott Prolific User Username: steve_e Post Number: 143 Registered: 11-2018 |
Unlike the earlier Shadow SU pump the later Bosch in line ones are a sealed unit and certainly no fuel should be getting out near the electrics so I would suspect some internal damage and best to just replace the whole pump. You may though just have a slight perforation in a rubber hose close to the pump connection that is just spraying a mist of fuel onto the outside of the pump so do keep looking more as you say. Expensive if trying to buy a new pump direct from a RR parts supplier but not that costly if you research online for one that should do the job. | ||
| Roderick Waite Prolific User Username: rodwaite Post Number: 218 Registered: 1-2012 |
Hello Peter - as Steve says, there's no way petrol is intended to be anywhere near electrics, so I too suspect a fine leak from a nearby hose connection. Hoses almost always fray at the hose clip as a result of taking up vibration and movement, which is virtually invisible to the eye where they are. In my case the tank was empty, so replacing the hose wasn't difficult. You may have to drain the tank - an adequate number of 10 litre plastic petrol cans or some such, not much room if on ramps - clamp the hose upstream to disconnect it (mole grips are handy for that), empty the tank then replace the hose - I'd do both in and out while at it. Also check the fuel pump mountings - mine had lost two of the three and was jiggling about loose, which hadn't helped. It'll do wonders for your fuel consumption! Rod |
